Inmates in South Carolina could soon find that a kidney is =
worth 180=20
days.

Lawmakers are considering legislation that would let prisoners =
donate=20
organs or bone marrow in exchange for time off their =
sentences.

A state Senate panel on Thursday endorsed creating an =
organ-and-tissue=20
donation program for inmates. But legislators postponed debate on =
a=20
measure to reduce the sentences of participating prisoners, citing =
concern=20
that federal law may not allow it.

"I think it's imperative that we go all out and see what we can =
do,"=20
said the bills' chief sponsor, Democratic Sen. Ralph Anderson. "I =
would=20
like to see us get enough donors that people are no longer =
dying."

The proposal approved by the Senate Corrections and Penology=20
Subcommittee would set up a volunteer donor program in prisons to =
teach=20
inmates about the need for donors. But lawmakers want legal advice =
before=20
acting on a bill that would shave up to 180 days off a prison =
sentence for=20
inmates who donate.

South Carolina advocates for organ donations said the incentive =
policy=20
would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Federal law makes it illegal to give organ donors "valuable=20
consideration." Lawmakers want to know whether the term could =
apply to=20
time off of prison sentences.

"We want to make this work, we really do," said Republican Sen. =
John=20
Hawkins. "But I want to make sure no one goes to jail for good=20
intentions."

But Melissa Blevins, executive director of Donate Life South =
Carolina,=20
said any incentive would break the law and the principle behind=20
donations.

"It really muddies the water about motive. We want to keep it a =
clearly=20
altruistic act," she said.

Under the proposals, money for medical procedures and any =
prison guard=20
overtime would be paid by the organ recipient and charitable =
groups. The=20
state would also decide which inmates could donate.

Corrections Department Director Jon Ozmint said he believes =
inmates=20
would donate even without the incentive.

"There are long-term inmates who would give if they knew a =
child was=20
dying," he said. "They're lifers. They know they're going to die =
in=20
prison."

More than 95,300 Americans are awaiting an organ transplant, =
according=20
to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. About 6,700 =
die each=20
year.

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